As the fashion department at Stephens College gears up for another vibrant showcase of student works for The Collections, things start wrapping up right in perfect time. Among the many preparations underway, the creation of the poster meets one of the first deadlines. The creation process utilizes collaboration, creativity, and the skills taught in the fashion program to complete it. In an exclusive interview, Hannah Klemen, a seasoned member of the Fashion Show Production (FSP) team, sheds light on the process behind this year’s poster design.

Klemen, currently pursuing a degree in Fashion Design and Product Development set to graduate in 2025, is no stranger to the FSP scene. With three years as a production member, two of which have been spent as co-chair, Klemen’s enthusiasm for production shines through as she lets us in on her process while making The Collections 80th poster.

Collaborating with fellow production co-chair Katie Ciolino, FSP Assistant Claire Johnson, and Professor Monica McMurry, Klemen jumped on the poster’s creation. Klemen told us “This year it was a little funky. We just decided someone make it, and I started making it.” In doing so, the fire of a delayed poster, which happened in previous years, was avoided. The outcome of hard work being a poster that resonates with the essence of The Collections 80th.

Despite the pressures associated with the role, Klemen’s passion for the fashion program and enjoyment of graphic design kept her going through the stress. Klemen used her skills with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Dafont.com while producing the poster.

When asked about her creative process Klemen had this to say, “It’s kind of like any of my creative processes, just like put something on there and edit it until it’s something you like. Then start over and do that with a bunch of other ones and narrow it down. Keep editing and keep editing until it’s perfect.” From selecting the perfect font to curating archival imagery from Stephens College’s rich history, every detail was curated to capture the essence of the event.

The focal image on the poster is modeled by Wanxun Lin, who goes by Lindsay, and was taken by Katie Ciolino. When asked about details of the photo Klemen said that Lindsay was the first to come to mind because “she has a really dope wardrobe”, though for the poster she is seen in a student designed garment. The photo on the poster is a collection of two photos taken during the shoot. Seamlessly photoshopped together by Klemen were the top and bottom portions of the two photos they liked best.

Behind Lindsay on the poster is an archival image of an article from Stephens Life about models which came out two years after the programs start in 1944. Hannah got to delve into the archives at Stephens College with the help of Anne Cox, a faculty member of the Stephens College Library, along with her co-chair Katie, and other members of the FSP team. Together they put together a collection of images that will be seen in various ways leading up to the shows on April 13th.

At the end of the interview Klemen emphasizes the collaboration that was required for the poster’s creation. “I might have been on the computer, but I was getting notes from Professor Kirsty Buchanan, Professor Monica McMurry, Claire Johnson, and Katie Ciolino.” Their collective efforts came together in a poster that not only reflects the spirit of The Collections but also celebrates the power of teamwork and creativity.